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9

(Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) Alternate name(s): "Common Stilt", "Longshanks", "Stilt-bird", "Dog-bird"; misnomer: "Long-legged Plover" German name(s): "Stelzenläufer" Size: 33-40 cm; wing span 67-83 cm Weight: 135-290 g

Europe: Family Group 9 Family Group 9 Table Red Phalarope Eurasian Stone-curlew Black-winged Stilt Pied Avocet Collared Pratincole Eurasian Oystercatcher Common Ringed Plover Little Ringed Plover Kentish Plover Grey Plover European Golden Plover Northern Lapwing Spur-winged Lapwing Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts are medium-sized, long-legged, black-and-white waders. Their body plumage is mostly white, except for a black patch on the nape of the neck and the black upperwings. The underwings are also entirely black. The irises are dark. The slender, straight bill is dull black, while the long legs are prominently pink (often seen trailing far beyond the end of the tail in flight). Juvenile (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts have an all-white head and neck, except for a small brownish-grey cap. Immature birds have a more prominent brownish-grey cap and a grey patch at the nape of the neck.

Taxonomy, classification See (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information The taxonomy of the genus Himantopus is still contentious. We have no authority to weigh in on the issue, but will follow here the convention currently (2019/20) in use by ebird.org , where the species shown here is called the "Eurasian Black-winged Stilt", which is separate from the (Australasian) Pied Stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus that was formerly treated as a race of the Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus leucocephalus. We do not include here any birds in the genus Himantopus found on the American continents.

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt is available HERE . They breed in an area spanning from western Europe and the Mediterranean to Central Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, as well as South and South-east Asia. There is also a breeding population in East Asia (e.g. Taiwan). They are also found on some islands in south-eastern Asia, e.g. in western Micronesia. The north-western populations (Europe, south-western Asia) migrate southwards to spend the northern winters in Africa. In Europe only nominate race "himantopus" is found. Apart from some locations along the French Atlantic coastline, their breeding range in Europe is to the South of the Alps and the Pyrenees, in the Mediterranean. They are found in most of southern and central Spain and along the southern fringe of the Pyrenees. North of the Pyrenees there is a migration route to the Atlantic coast from the breeding population on the Cote d'Azure. There are breeding populations on the western Mediterreanean islands (Baleares, Sardinia, Corsica) and along almost the entire Italian and Greek coastline. Farther eastwards they breed along the northern coastline of the Black Sea to the northern Caspian Sea and along the lower Danube River into Hungary. (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts can be found in the shallows of various kinds of aquatic habitat (both saline and freshwater), such as e.g. ephemeral wetlands, freshwater lakes (including ephemeral lakes), but also saltwater marshes.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "himantopus" D. Wilczynska reports spotting (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts, nominate race "himantopus", in a lagoon near Santa Giusta, near Oristano, western Sardinia, Italy, in June 2016. S. Cuturilov reports finding (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts, nominate race "himantopus", near Temerin, Serbia, in August 2017. J. Pires reports finding (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts, nominate race "himantopus", regularly in the Tejo Estuary Nature Reserve and elsewhere in the region, from Mora, Evora, to Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal. H. Dahlem-Senger found (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts, nominate race "himantopus", in large numbers at Parc Natural de s'Albufera de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, in May 2023. (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts, nominate race "himantopus", were previously also seen by us in Oman.

Photos

Race "himantopus"

ADULT

MALE

Near-lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt; the jet-black back suggests that this is a male (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Palhais, Barreiro, Setubal, Portugal, May 2018]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]

Lateral view of a male (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas de Olhao, Olhao, Algarve, Portugal, October 2020]

Lateral view of a male (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt - with the wind ruffling its feathers from behind, it looks a bit untidy
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Brito, Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, June 2022]

Dorsal view of a male (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt issuing its call (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Brito, Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, June 2022]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt; note the brownish hues on the back (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Forte do Rato, Tavira, Algarve, Portugal, September 2020]

Lateral view of a female (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal Alhos Vedros, Moita, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2022]

Lateral view of a female (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2020]

Lateral view of a female (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt foraging in shallow water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2015]

Lateral view of a female (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a female (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2020]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt in flight; the brownish hues on the back suggest that this is a female
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2014]

PAIR

(Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts together with a pair of non-breeding Ruffs: The bird on the right, with the black back, is likely a male, the bird at the far left, with the brownish back a female, and the bird at front left, with a greyish crown and neck, a first-year immature (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, August 2018]

Male (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt, left, and a female, right, trying to chase away an intruder near their nest
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2015]

Near-frontal view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt issuing its call (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Santa Giusta, Oristano, Sardinia, Italy, June 2016]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2019]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Comparison of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt with a juvenile Greater Flamingo (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Santa Giusta, Oristano, Sardinia, Italy, June 2016]

Overview of a lagoon in which (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts were found, together with several other aquatic species, including Greater Flamingos (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Santa Giusta, Oristano, Sardinia, Italy, June 2016]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a first-year immature (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt foraging in grassland (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Near Temerin, Serbia, August 2017]

Lateral view of a first-year immature (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt foraging in a marsh (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2018]

Near-dorsal view of an immature? (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Dorsal view of an immature? (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Close-up dorsal view of two first-winter (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts; note the still grey nape of the neck, which in adults will be black (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]

Lateral view of a juvenile (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal Alhos Vedros, Moita, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2022]

Lateral view of a juvenile (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a resting juvenile (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Marismas de Isla Cristina, Isla Cristina, Huelva, Spain, September 2020]

Lateral view of four well-advanced (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chicks (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2014]

(Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts landing where others are already foraging; note the orange legs of the juveniles, compared to the pink ones of adults (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2014]

(Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt with 3 chicks (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Parc Natural de s'Albufera de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, May 2023]

Near-frontal view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chick (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chick (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chick (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Near-frontal view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chick hiding in reeds (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2014]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chick hiding in reeds (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2014]

Dorsal view of two (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chicks hiding in reeds (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2014]

Breeding information

Breeding season: May - Aug

Eggs: 4

Incubation period: ca. 25 days

Fledging age: Precocial

(Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt chicks leave their nest at a very young age, soon after the last egg has hatched. They can fly at about 28 days of age.

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

Type: Basket

Material: Sticks, seaweed

Height above ground: N/A

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt on its nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt on its nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Dorsal view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt on its nest (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Parc Natural de s'Albufera de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, May 2023]

Eggs

Size: 48 x 34 mm

Colour: Ochre, with dark olive-brown speckles

Shape: Long tapered oval

Frontal view of a female (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt turning the eggs in its nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral view of a male (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt turning its eggs (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, June 2022]

Behaviour

(Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts are one of the bird species that try to distract those coming too close to their nests or chicks by pretending to be injured, thereby leading the intruder astray.

Dorsal view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt trying to distract an intruder (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Parc Natural de s'Albufera de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, May 2023]

Lateral view of a (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt trying to distract an intruder, making sure that it is being followed - away from its nest/chicks (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Parc Natural de s'Albufera de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, May 2023]

In their winter quarters, (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts can congregate in significant numbers.

Lateral view of a mob of (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilts in low flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal Alhos Vedros, Moita, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2022]

Food, Diet

Male (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt with its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2019]

Male (Eurasian) Black-winged Stilt with its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2019]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

blwstlt_jp_20190602_3.m4a	himantopus (Portugal)	Contact calls(?)	© JP
blwstlt_jp_20190602.m4a	himantopus (Portugal)	Contact & warning calls(?) (+ Little Grebe)	© JP
blwstlt_jp_20190522.m4a	himantopus (Portugal)	Warning calls(?) (+ bells)	© JP
blwstlt_jp_20190602_2.m4a	himantopus (Portugal)	Warning/departure	© JP

More Black-winged Stilt sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Thu, 25 May 2023, 19:51 +00:00